Load-bearing frame structure



Dec. 31, 1968 R. F. KIP, JR

LOAD-BEARING FRAME STRUCTURE Sheet Filed Jan. 5, 1967 29 (In Plane b 28'(In Plane b 27' (In Plane b,

40 (In Plane b,) 4! (In Plane b 42 (In Plane b /-s-36' 40'(ln Plane 0,4! (In Plane a 42'(ln Plane 0 30 (In Plane 0,) 3! (In Plane a 32 (InPlane a 30' (In Plane b, 3l' (In Plane b 32' (In Plane b 29 (In Plane a28 (In Plane a 27 (In Plane 0,)

37 (In Plane b, 38 (In Plane b 39 (In Plane b 37' (In Plane 0, 38' (InPlane a 39' (In Plane a INVENTOR. RULOFF F. KIP, JR.

Dec. 31, 1968 R. F. KIP, JR

LOAD-BEARING FRAME STRUCTURE Sheet Filed Jan. 5. 1967 FIG. 3

IINVENTOR. RULOFF F. KIP, JR.

Dec. 31, 1968 R. F. KIP, JR 3,418,922

LOAD-BEARING FRAME STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 5, 1967 Sheet 3 0f 5 a bINVENTOR. RULOFF E KIP, JR.

United States Patent 3,418,922 LOAD-BEARING FRAME STRUCTURE Rulolf F.Kip, Jr., Ossining, N.Y., assignor to Barogenics, Inc., Mount Vernon,N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Jan. 3, 1967, Ser. No. 606,920 18Claims. (Cl. 100-214) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Frame structures eachcomprised of two similar closed polygonal load-bearing frames eachdisposed around a central space within the structure, the frames beingeach comprised of sets of parallel transversely spaced beams which areconnected together by hinge joints and which are all in parallel planes,the frames having respective sets of beams which are interleaved toproduce interpenetration of the frames and an overlapping of theirrespective transverse extents, and the frames being coupled in parallelto a press inside the central space to receive oppositely directedloading forces from the press and to share such loading forces.

This invention relates to frame structures particularly adapted forindustrial uses such as hearing and absorbing the reactive loads exertedby forging presses or other means for doing work on material. Moreparticularly, this invention relates to frame structures of such sortwhich are comprised of at least two separately identifiable load-bearingframes.

Laminated-type" frames are well known and generally comprise a closedrectangular frame having two crossheads each formed of a set or gratingof parallel cross beams transversely spaced from each other to beseparated by voids. The two crossheads are coupled together by two setsof parallel tie beams transversely spaced from each other to beseparated by voids, the tie beams being interleaved at their ends withthe ends of beams of the crossheads, and a hinge pin being passedthrough each such interleaving to join the interleaved beams together.Because of the voids between the beams in each crosshead and between thetie beams in each set thereof, the structure requires an undesirablylarge housing space in comparison to its load bearing capacity.

To the end of improving the ratio of load bearing capacity to requiredhousing space, it has been proposed to provide a frame means whereinduplicate single frames of the type described are interlinked like tworings. Both frames are vertical and are disposed so that (l) thevertical planes of the two frames intersect at less than a right angleto form an X, (2) the lower crossheads of the two frames are in abuttingrelation at the center of the X to form a lower compound crosshead and,likewise the upper crossheads of the two frames are in abutting relationat the center of the X to form an upper compound crosshead. Because oftheir interlinked relation, each of the two frames provides for thecompound crossheads one component crosshead which is inside the otherframe and one component crosshead which is outside the other frame.

While this frame structure represents a substantial advance over theprior art and is satisfactory for many applications, it has certaindisadvantages as follows.

First, because the two frames of the structure are in non-parallelplanes, the structure takes up more room than is desirable in thetransverse dimension i.e., the dimension between the ends closesttogether of the arms of the X. Also, the X configuration of thestructure reduces the dimension of the access way for work (i.e., thedimension between the ends farthest apart of the arms of Patented Dec.31, 1968 the X) to a size less than the horizontal span of thecrossheads of the frame.

Second, the inner and outer component crossheads of each compoundcrosshead are in series with each other for the purpose of receiving andabsorbing the load imposed on the compound crosshead. Because of thisserial coupling of the two component crossheads of each compoundcrosshead, the two frames are locked together under load so as to beunable to each respond to the load in a manner which is unconstrained bycontact with the other frame. Further, because the load is transmittedto each outer component crosshead through the inner component crosshead,the deformation patterns of the two component crossheads are notnecessarily the same, and the inner crosshead is subjected to an outwardloading stress which is about twice that on the outer crosshead.

Third, the compound crossheads of the frame structure each provide afill factor of only 50% for a load applied to the crosshead. That 50%figure is arrived at as follows. First, a determination is made for thebeams of the compound crosshead of the effective areas of the inner faceportions of those beams to which portions of the outwardly directed loadstress are transmitted by wholly parallel couplings of the load to thetie-connected beams of the compound crosshead. By effective area ismeant the component of the full area of any such face portion which isnormal to the direction of application of the load. The total of sucheffective areas is then divided by the area of the whole circumscribedregion occupied by those effective areas to yield the fill factor. As ahomely example of fill factor, a checkerboard has a black square fillfactor of 50% because the black squares of the checkerboard have a totalarea which is 50% of the area of the entire checkerboard.

The fill factor so far described may be termed the regional fill factorbecause it concerns only the region of the compound crosshead which isactually subjected to distributed loading. Also of importance, however,is the span fill factor, i.e., the ratio of the mentioned effectiveareas to the effective area of the whole transverse and lateral extentof that portion of the compound crosshead which spans the centralworking space. For best use of a compound crosshead, it is evidentlydesirable that the span fill factor have a value of at least 50% andpreferably be of greater value.

A regional fill factor of only 50% is obtained for the compoundcrossheads of the described frame structure because, in each of thosecompound crossheads it is only the beams of the inner componentcrossheads which provide inwardly facing beam portions to which portionsof the outwardly directed load stress are transmitted by wholly parallelcouplings of the load to the tie-connected beams of the compoundcrosshead.

Further, the compound crossheads cannot, practically speaking, bedistributively loaded from one side to the other of the central workingspace enclosed by the frame structure of that patent. That is so becausethe load on each such compound crosshead should be distributed only overthe region thereof within which there is an overlapping of the componentcrossheads of the compound crosshead, and the size of that region variesdirectly with the respective extents in their transverse directions ofthe two component crossheads. If, however, those transverse extents areincreased to increase the size of that region, then the access way forwork pieces is commensurately reduced in size. It follows that, if thetransverse extents of the component crossheads are increased enough tocreate such a region extending fully from side to side of the centralspace for the frame structure, there would be no access way at all forwork pieces.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide framestructures which are free of one or more of the disadvantages notedabove.

Another object of this invention is to provide frame structures whichmaximize the ratio of the load capacity thereof to the housing spacerequired therefor and to the size of the access Way provided by thestructure.

These and other objects of the invention are realized in a manner asfollows. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a framestructure is provided which is comprised of at least two closedpolygonal load bearing frames each disposed around a central spacewithin the structure and each comprised of (a) laterally extendingcrossheads on longitudinally opposite sides of such space and (b)longitudinally-extending tie means disposed on laterally opposite sidesof such space to couple together the crossheads of that frame. The twoframes are disposed in relation to each other to have respectivelaterallongitudinal midplanes normal to a common line in the transversedirection and to be characterized on each of the laterally oppositesides of such space by an overlapping in the transverse direction of therespective transverse extents of the two frames. Accordingly, the framestructure requires a minimum of housing space in the transversedirection.

As another aspect of the invention, each of the frames is comprised ofbeams of which at least portions occupy or pass through voids between atleast portions of beams of the other frame.

As still further aspects of the invention, the frames may be duplicatesin size and shape, may be loaded in parallel, may be in relativefloating relation, and may provide for the frame structure both aregional and a span fill factor in excess of 50%.

For a better understanding of how the aforementioned and other objectsof the invention are realized and for a better understanding of otheraspects and advantages of the invention, reference is made to thefollowing description of exemplary embodiments thereof and to theaccompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a double parallelogram frame structureaccording to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the frame structure of FIG. 1 asemployed with a press;

FIG. 3 is a force diagram pertaining to FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation of a modification of the embodiment of FIG.2; and

FIGS. 5-7 are schematic views of other embodiments of the invention.

In the discussion which follows, any two elements which are counterpartswill be designated by the same reference numeral but will bedifferentiated from each other by using a prime suflix for the referencenumeral designating one of those elements. It is to be understood that,unless the context otherwise requires, a description herein of anyelement is to be taken as being equally applicable to its counterpart.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a frame structure is comprised of a pair offrames and 20' of which each is in the form of a skewed parallelogram,andof which each is disposed around a central space 21 within thestructure 10. The two parallelogram frames are duplicates in size andshape but have a different orientation, i.e., have a mirror relation toeach other in the sense that the shape of frame 20 is the shape of frame20 as rotated 180 about a vertical axis. Because of the similaritybetween the two frames, only frame 20 will be described in detail.

The frame 20 is comprised of upper and lower longitudinally spacedcrossheads 25 and 26. Upper crosshead 25 is comprised of a set ofparallel steel beams 27-29 transversely and equidistantly spaced fromeach other so as to have voids therebetween of the same thickness as thebeams. The crosshead beams 27-29 are disposed in parallel transverselyand equidistantly spaced planes which are generally designated herein asthe a planes, and which are the planes a a and (1 for the beams 27, 28and 29, respectively.

Lowercrosshead 26 is likewise comprised of a set of parallel steel beams30-32 which are transversely and equidistantly spaced from each other tolie in, respectively, the planes a a a and which have voids therebetweenof the same thickness as the beams.

The crossheads 25 and 26 are coupled to each other at their laterallyopposite ends by left-hand and right-hand tie means and 36. Tie means 35is comprised of a set of parallel steel tie beams 37-39 which are of thesame thickness as the crosshead beams, and which are transversely andequidistantly spaced from each other to have voids therebetween of thesame thickness as those crosshead beams. The tie beams 37-39 lie in aset of transversely and equidistantly spaced p'anes which are generallydesignated herein as the b planes, and which are parallel to each otherand to the a planes and are in interleaved relation with the a planes tobe transversely displaced from the a planes by half the distance betweenadjacent a planes. The b planes of the three tie beams 37- 39 are b band b respectively.

Tie means 36 is comprised of a similar set of parallel transversely andequidistantly spaced steel tie beams 40, 41 and 42 disposed in,respectively, the planes b b and b3- As shown, the longitudinallyopposite end portions of the left-hand and right-hand tie beams of frame20 are interleaved with the laterally opposite end portions of the beamsof both crossheads of that frame, and hinge pins 45-48 are passedthrough the four resulting interleavings to provide load-transmissivecouplings in the form of hinge joints by which the crossheads and setsof tie beams are coupled together to form the closed loadbearingpolygonal frame 20. The advantages provided by such hinge joints in aload-bearing frame are set out in US. Patent 2,968,837 to Zeitlin et al.

The frame 20 differs in structure from frame 20 only in that in frame20' the beams of its crossheads 25 and 26 are in the b planes and thetie beams of its two tie means 35 and 36' are in the a planes.

There is no coupling between frames 20 and 20' which would have theeffect in the longitudinal and lateral directions of causing adeformation of one of the frames or an adjustment of one of the framesin its shape or in its position (angular or translational) to be whollyor partly constrained by the other frame. Hence, in the longitudinal andlateral directions, the two frames are floating in relation to eachother.

Because of the difference in the planes occupied by the crosshead beamsof the frames 20 and 20', the respective beams of the separatecrossheads 25 and 25' of those frames are enabled to pass by each other.As shown, those beams do pass by each other in interleaved relation toprovide an upper compound crosshead having 25 and 25' as componentcrossheads thereof. Similarly, the respective beams of the separatelower crossheads 26 and 26 of the frames 20 and 20 are beams which passby each other in interleaved relation to form a lower compound crosshead51 having 26 and 26 as component crossheads thereof.

Because of the mode of interleaving of the component crossheads of thecompound crossheads, each of the latter has two joints which are onlaterally opposite sides of the space 21 and which are inside two otherjoints associated with that compound crosshead. Thus the joints providedby pins 45, 46 of crosshead 50 are inside the joints provided by pins45, 46, and the joints provided by plus joints 47, 48 of crosshead 51are inside the joints provided by pins 47' and 48. As shown, thecomponent crossheads of each compound crosshead are laterallyoverlapping over the distance between the laterally opposite sides ofspace 21 (i.e., between the inner sides of the two inside joints of thecompound crosshead), and the access way 52 (FIG. 2) for introduction ofa piece of work into space 21 is at least as large as (and, in fact, islarger than) that distance.

The respective tie means of the frames 20 and 25 are also interleaved.That is, the left-hand tie beams 37-39 of frame 20 and the left-hand tiebeams 3739 of frame 20 pass by each other as shown to be in interleavedrelation. Similarly, the right-hand tie beams 40 and 42 of frame 20 andthe right-hand tie beams 4042' of frame 20 pass by each other to be ininterleaved relation.

From the previous description, it will be appreciated that any twoadjacent sets of parallel transversely spaced beams are adapted to passby each other in interleaved relation when the beams of one set occupythe a planes and the beams of the other set occupy the b planes.

The massive load-bearing frames of FIG. 1 are maintained in theirillustrated position by one or more light support frameworks (not shown)which are not part of the present invention. Such one or more frameworksare designed so as to not bear any substantial part of the loads imposedon frames 20 and 20, and so as to not interfere substantially with theresponses of those frames to loading and with the floating relationbetween those frames.

FIG. 2 shows the frame structure of FIG. 1 as employed to receiveoutward reactive loads on its compound crossheads 50 and 51 from theopposed rams 60 and 61 of a forging press 62 doing work on a piece ofWork 67 such as a billet. The upper ram 60 has a wedged shaped topproviding oppositely-slanting load-transmitting faces 63 and 64 whichbear flatly and directly against, respectively, the crosshead 25 and thecrosshead 25' of the component crosshead 50. In like manner, the lowerram 61 has a wedge shaped bottom providing oppositelyslantingload-transmitting faces 65 and 66 which bear flatly and directlyagainst, respectively, the crosshead 26 and the crosshead 26 of thelower component crosshead 51. Hence, the oppositely directed loads fromthe rams 60 and 61 are transmitted in parallel to the frames 20 and 20'and are divided half and half between those two frames.

The frame structure of FIGS. 1 and 2 is a double strengt composite framestructure like that of US. Patent 3,278,993 and shares many of theadvantages which are described in that patent for the frame structuredisclosed therein. Among other additional advantages of the framestructure of FIGS. 1 and 2, the component frames of that structure haverespective longitudinal-lateral midplanes Which each are normal to acommon line extending in the transverse direction of the structure.Moreover, on each of the laterally opposite sides of space 21 the twoframes overlap in their respective transverse extents (i.e., thetransverse extent of tie means 35 overlaps with that of tie means 35,and the same is true for tie means 36 and 36). Hence, structure is acomposite frame structure which (1) minimizes the housing space requiredfor the structure in the transverse direction, (2) maximizes in thelateral direction the dimension of the access way for work i.e., thelateral dimension over which work (such as billet 67) can be introducedtransversely from outside the frame structure to the central spacewithin that structure so as to be positioned between the rams 60 and 61.

Further, because the two frames are loaded in parallel and are floatingin relation to each other, they are each adapted to respond to theloading from press 62 in a manner which is not substantially constrainedby a coupling with the other frame by means other than the indirectcoupling of the two frames provided by press 62. Moreover, because thetwo frames are not only floating but are also substantial duplicates insize and shape and in the couplings thereof to press 62, the two framesunder loading undergo similar deformations and are subject to similarstresses and, accordingly, tend to automatically equalize betweenthemselves the loads which are borne by each.

As another advantage, because the component crossheads of each compoundcrosshead are laterally overlapping from one lateral side to the otherof the space 21 within the frame structure 10, each compound crossheadprovides a full strength backing for load over that entire distance,and, accordingly, the compound crosshead can be distributively loadedover most or all of such distance. Also, such increased span over whichthe compound crossheads can be distributively loaded does not entail anysacrifice in the size of the access way 52 for the billet 67 or otherpiece of work.

Still further, the frame structure of FIGS. 1 and 2 is relativelyinexpensive to construct because it is entirely fabricated from simplebeam members and hinge pins of which both are commercially availablefrom steel mills, and which require no alteration from theircommercially available shape except (in the case of the beam members)for the boring of holes to accommodate the hinge pins.

The frame structure of FIGS. 1 and 2 does, however, have a shortcomingbest understood from FIG. 3. That figure shows a skewed parallelogram 70representative in shape of the frames 20 and 20. The short arms 71 and72 of parallelogram 70 are subjected to equal loading forces F and Ffrom a source P corresponding to the press 62 of FIG. 2. In the FIG. 3diagram, the center lines of action of the forces F and F are (a) equaland oppositely directed, (b) colinear, (c) parallel to the long arms 73and 74 of the parallelogram 70. The center lines of action also (d) passthrough the centers of the short arms 71 and 72. Because the loadingforces F and F meet the conditions (a) to (d) just stated, theparallelogram 70 is not subjected to any moment by those forces, theshort arms 71 and 72 will be symmetrically loaded about their lateralcenters by the forces F and F; the long arms 73 and 74 will be subjectedto equal tensions, and the parallelogram will be theoretically stable inits shown skewed shape, i.e., will not tend either to collapse or toassume a rectangular form.

In the FIG. 2 structure, on the other hand, although the loading forceson frame 20 are equal and oppositely directed, the center lines ofaction of those loading forces 20 are not wholly colinear and are notwholly parallel to the long arms of the frame, and such center lines ofaction do not pass through the lateral centers of the short arms of theframe. The same is true for the center lines of atcion of the loadingforces on the frame 20. Hence, the loading forces on the two framesexert on them a moment tending to rotate the frame in oppositedirections around the press 62. Also, such forces tend to urge theskewed parallelogram frames to assume a rectangular form, and, althoughthe forces similarly load both frames, the forces do not load theindividual crossheads of each of frames 20 and 20 symmetrically abouttheir lateral centers so as to produce equal tensions in the tie beamsof each of the frames.

Such frame stability problems as are created by the mentionedassymetries in the individual loadings on frames 20 and 20 may beovercome by constructing the skewed parallelogram frames to eachapproach as close as possible to the rectangular form (see FIG. 4)consonant with the consideration that the beams of the two frames passby each other (as shown) to position ones of the joints of each frameinside the other frame. To put it another way, such problems may beovercome by bringing those frame joints which are on the inside of theframe structure within the closest distance practical (see FIG. 4) tothe adjacent frame joints on the outside of the frame structure (seeFIG. 4). By so constructing the frame structure, the contacts betweenthe frames 20, 20' and press 62 and the friction between those framesand the press will prevent the frames from rotating or changing in shapedespite the assymetry in the loading on each of the frames.

As an alternative to the mode of construction just de scribed or as anaddition thereto, any tendencies of the frames to rotate under a momentor to change in shape may be overcome by the optional use of hinge pins80, 80' and 81, 81' passing transversely through the centers of,respectively, compound crosshead 50 and compound crosshead 51. Each suchhinge pin fastens together the two component crossheads of the compoundcrosshead through which that pin passes so as to cause the horizontalcomponents of the respective loading forces on the two componentcrossheads to balance each other out. Hence, considering the framestructure 10 as a whole, the pins 80, 80' and 81, 81' cause theresultant loading forces on that structure to be vertical, colinear,equal and opposite forces and to otherwise meet for that structure theconditions discussed (in connection with FIG. 3) which assure thestability of that whole structure. When, however, such hinge pins areused, they eliminate the ability of the component frames and 20 to eachrespond to the load in a manner unconstrained by the other frame.

FIG. 4 shows the FIG. 2 structure as modified to provide the symmetricalloading conditions discussed in connection with FIG. 3. In the FIG. 4modification, the outer ends of the rams 60 and 61 are fiat. Consideringthe upper ram, interposed between its fiat top and the underside of beam27' (here shown in front of beam 27) are lower and upper superposedsteel triangular transition pieces 90 and 91 for the crosshead of frame20'. Those pieces are of the same transverse thickness as the beam, andthey register transversely with the beam so as to transmit loading forceto the beam over its full transverse width.

The pieces 90' and 91 have therebetween an interface 92' normal to thelies of the tie beams 36' of frame 20' of which beam 27' is a part. Ifdesired a layer of Teflon (not shown) may be interposed at interface 92between the pieces 90 and 91 to minimize the frictional resistance torelative sliding of those pieces in the direction of he of theinterface. Piece 91' is coupled to beam 27 by conventional fasteningmeans (not shown) which prevents lateral sliding between that piece andthe beam. The two pieces 90 and 91 are disposed in the lateral dimensionof beam 27 so that the center line of action of the load forcetransmitted through interface 92 is directed to pass through the lateralcenter of beam 27. That transmitted load force is normal to interface 92and, hence, parallel to the tie beams 35 and 36 of frame 20.

Two similar upper and lower transition pieces 90 and 91 are disposedbehind transition pieces 90', 91' to be interposed between the top ofram and the beam 27 of crosshead 25 of frame 20. The pieces and 91 arearranged (with 91 being fastened to beam 27 to prevent lateral slidingtherebetween) so that loading force transmitted through their interface92 (or through a Teflon layer between the two pieces) is directed topass through the lateral center of beam 27 and to be normal to interface92 and, hence, parallel to the tie beams 35 and 36 or frame 20.

The pair of transition pieces under beam 27' is duplicated by a likepair of transition pieces under each of the other beams in crosshead25'. Moreover, the pair of transition pieces under beam 27 is duplicatedby a like pair of transition pieces under each of the other beams incrosshead 25. All of the lower left-hand transition pieces (e.g., piece90) are fastened to all of the lower righthand transition pieces (e.g.,piece 90') by a pin 95 passing transversely through the interleaving ofthe lower lefthand pieces and lower righthand pieces. The whole array oftransition pieces under compound crosshead 50 is duplicated by a likearray of transition pieces interposed between the flat bottom of ram 61and the lower compound crosshead 51.

Upon loading of the frame structure of FIG. 4 by the press 62, thedescribed transition pieces causethe center lines of action of theloading forces on the crossheads of each of the frames 20 and 20 to passthrough the lateral centers of those crossheads in a direction parallelto the lie of the tie beams coupled to those crossheads. Hence, for thereasons discussed in connection with FIG. 3, each of the componentframes of the FIG. 4 frame structure will be stably loaded so as to haveno moment thereon and no tendency of change shape. Moreover, thecrossheads of each of the component frames will be symmetrically loadedabout the lateral centers of such crossheads, and, in both frames, thetwo sets of tie beams in the frame will be under equal tension.

It might be noted that the FIG. 3 parallelogram is only theoreticallystable since, if the forces F and F were to be point forces exerted asshown, any maintained departure of those forces from colinearity wouldcause the parallelogram to jack and to thereby collapse to aconfiguration approximating a straight line. In the FIG. 4 framestructure however, the tendency of each component frame to bedynamically unstable like the FIG. 3 parallelogram is overcome by thefact that the loading forces on the frame from the contained press andthe contact made between the frame and that press are both distributedover a substantial lateral extent of each of the crossheads of theframe.

In addition to its other advantages. the FIG. 4 structure provides aregional fill factor and a span fill factor which are each greater than50%. That is so because the inner face portions of the beams of eachcompound crosshead to which portions of the distributed load aretransmitted in parallel are beam portions of which the effective areashave a total area more than 50% of the area of the whole region occupiedby those effective areas and more than 50% of the egective area of thelateral and transverse extent of that portion of each compound crossheadwhich laterally spans the central working space 21. At the cost ofintroducing a slight assymmetry in the loading on each of frames 20 and20', the regional fill factor may be increased to by modifying thetransition pieces in each array thereof so that the pieces in the aplanes and the pieces in the 1) planes are laterally coextensive.

FIGS. 5 and 6 and 7 are schematic diagrams of further embodiments of theinvention. In each of those diagrams, the heavy black lines representtransversely spaced sets of beams, the letters a and b denote the planesin which the beams in such sets lie, and the heavy black dots representhinge joints.

In the FIG. 5 structure, the component frames 100 and 101, are in theform of interleaved trapezoids which are duplicates in size and shapeand which are in mirror relation to each other so that the parallelsides of each trapezoid are vertical to provide the sets of tie beamsfor the structure. The load is transmitted from the press 62 to thecomponent frames via triangular transition pieces (one per beam) whichare in fixed relation with the corresponding beam, and of which thepiece 101 and the piece 101 (partly behind piece 101) are exemplary. TheFIG. 5 structure has all the advantages of the FIG. 4 structure and thefurther advantage that its sets of tie beams are vertical so as to takeup a minimum of room.

In the FIG. 6 structure, the component frames and 110 are in the form ofinterleaved duplicate trapezoids disposed so that the parallel sides ofeach trapezoid are horizontal to provide the component crossheads of thestructure. The structures upper compound crosshead is comprised of anupper component crosshead 111 (provided by frame 110) and a lowercomponent crosshead 111 (provided by frame 110') of slightly lesser spanthan crosshead 111. Because the beams of crossheads 111 and 111' are inplanes at and b respectively, the beams of the two crossheads, althoughparallel, may be partly interleaved. That is, the upper beams may occupythose portions of the voids between the lower beams which are above thepins by which the crosshead 111 is connected to its tie beams.

In loading the upper compound crosshead, the top of ram 60 bearsdirectly against the inner crosshead 111', and loading force istransmitted from the ram to the outer crosshead 111 through rectangulartransition bars 112 inserted in the voids between the beams of crosshead111' so that the tops of the bars bear against the bottoms of the beamsof crosshead 111 and the bottom sides of the bars 112 are flush with thebottom sides of the beams of crosshead 111.

The lower compound crosshead of the FIG. 6 structure has a constructionsimilar to that of the upper compound crosshead just described.

The FIG. 6 structure has all the described advantages of the FIG. 4structure and the further advantage that, in the FIG. 6 structure, aregional fill factor of 100% and a span fill factor in excess of 50% areobtained without the introduction of any accompanying symmetry into theloading of the component frames. Because the outer component crosshead111 of the upper compound crosshead is of slightly longer span than theinner crosshead 111' thereof and, also, is subject to compressive stressby the horizontal components of the tensile forces in the tie bars towhich crosshead 111 is connected, crosshead 111 might tend to have alarger bowing deformation than crosshead 111 if the same load were to beapplied under the same conditions to each crosshead, and the frames 110,110' were not floating in relation to each other. The tendency ofcrosshead 111 to bow more than crosshead 111 is however, largely orentirely overcome by the fact that the load on crosshead 111 istransmitted thereto through the transition bars 112 which, in effect,provide an extra stiffening for the outer component crosshead. Theconsiderations just discussed also apply to the lower compoundcrosshead. Moreover, irrespective of the relative sizes of thedeformations of the inner and outer component crossheads of eachcompound crosshead, the floating relation between frames 110 and 110cause the two frames to automatically share equally between them thetotal load impressed on the FIG. 6 frame structure and thereby cause thetwo component crossheads of each compound crosshead to bear the sameload.

In the FIG. 7 structure, the component frames 120 and 120 areinterleaved hexagons. In each of the frames, two laterally opposite onesof the tie sides of the hexagon are formed by the joining together by aspaced pair of binge pins of interleaved a beams and b beams so that thea beams project from opposite ends of the structure thus formed and areoverlapping over the distance between the two hinge pins. Each compoundcrosshead of the FIG. 7 structure is formed of an inner crosshead whichbears directly against the corresponding ram and of an outer crossheadwhich receives loading forces from that ram via rectangular transitionbars 121 similar to those already described in connection with FIG. 6.In each frame, the hinge joints at the widest part of the hexagon areconnected by beams 122 which prevent the hexagon from collapsing underload into rectangular form. Those beams 122 may be connected to the pinsof the mentioned joints at positions transversely outside theconnections thereto of the tie beams which are joined by those pins, andsuch beams 122 may provide part of the platform for the work 67. TheFIG. 7 structure provides the same advantages as the FIG. 6 structureand the additional advantage that the two component crossheads of eachcompound crosshead are of equal span.

The above-described embodiments being exemplary only, it is to beunderstood that additions thereto, modifications thereof and omissionstherefrom can be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention, and that the invention comprehends embodiments differing inform and/or detail from those specifically described. For example, whilethe description herein has been limited to frame structures formed ofonly two component frames, it will be appreciated that each suchcomponent frame may be divided in the transverse direction into aplurality of separate frames.

Accordingly, the invention is not to be considered as limited save as isconsonant with the recitals of the following claims.

1. In apparatus comprised of a load bearing frame structure comprised ofat least two closed polygonal loadbearing frames each disposed around acentral space within said structure, each frame being comprised oflaterally extending crossheads on longitudinally opposite sides of saidspace and of separate longitudinally extending tie means disposed onlaterally opposite sides of said space and coupled with such crossheadsby load-transmissive couplings productive of an opposed relation in saidtie means between respective outward loads on said crossheads, saidframe structure being characterized by compound crossheads disposed onlongitudinally opposite sides of said space and each comprised ofcomponent crossheads of which each is a crosshead of a respective one ofsaid frames, the improvement in which said frames have respectivelongitudinal-lateral midplanes which are each substantially normal to acommon line extending in the transverse direction of said structure, andin which said frames are relatively disposed in said direction to becharacterized on each of said laterally opposite sides of said space byan overlapping in said direction of the respective transverse extents onthat side of said two frames.

2. The improvement as in claim 1 further comprising, means in said spaceto subject each of said compound crossheads to an outwardly directedload, and means by which such load on each compound crosshead isreceived in parallel by the component crossheads thereof.

3. The improvement as in claim 1 in each of said two frames has aresponse to load which is unconstrained by contact with the other frame.

4. The improvement as in claim 1 in which each of the componentcrossheads of each compound crosshead is comprised of transverselyspaced beams separated by voids and disposed in respective planes whichare parallel to and in transversely displaced relation with therespective planes of such beams of the other component crosshead of thatcompound crosshead.

5. The improvement as in claim 4 in which the component crossheads ofeach compound crosshead have respective beams of which at least portionsare disposed in the voids between beams of the other component crossheadso as to be interleaved with at least portions of the last named beams.

6. The improvement as in claim 1 in which each component crosshead ofeach compound crosshead is comprised of transversely spaced beamsseparated by voids to thereby render such compound crosshead comprisedof beams, said apparatus further comprising, means in said central spaceto apply to each of said compound cross heads an outwardly directeddistributed load, and means by which such outward load on each compoundcrosshead is received in parallel by beams thereof on inner faceportions of such beams, the effective areas normal to the direction ofload application of said portions being disposed within a circumscribedregion and having a total area of at least 50% greater than that of saidwhole region to thereby provide a regional fill factor of more than 50%for such compound crosshead.

7. The improvement as in claim 6 in which each such gogpound crossheadhas a span fill factor in excess of 8. The improvement as in claim 1 inwhich each of said frames is comprised of transversely spaced beamsseparated by voids, and in which each of said frames has beams passingthrough the voids between and in interleaved relation with beams of theother frame so as to render each frame partly inside and partly outsidethe other frame.

9. The improvement as in claim 8 in which said frames are substantialduplicates in size and shape.

10. The improvement as in claim 9 further comprising means in saidcentral space to subject each of said compound crossheads to anoutwardly directed load, and means by which such load of each compoundcrosshead is divided between said frames to produce substantiallysimilar loading stresses on each frame.

11. The improvement as in claim 9 in which said load bearing framestructure is substantially symmetrical in a longitudinal-lateral planeabout a longitudinal axis in such plane, said last named plane passingthrough both of said frames of said structure.

12. The improvement as in claim 9 in which said load bearing framestructure is substantially symmetrical in a longitudinal-lateral planeabout a lateral axis in such plane, said last named plane passingthrough both of said frames of said structure.

13. The improvement as in claim 1 in which at least one of said framesis of skewed parallelogram shape.

14. The improvement as in claim 1 in which at least one of said framesis of trapezoidal shape.

15. The improvement as in claim 1 in which at least one of said framesis of hexagonal shape.

16. The improvement as in claim 1 in which the component crossheads ofeach compound crosshead are relatively disposed to position two of saidcouplings of such component crosshead inside two other of suchcouplings, and in which said component crossheads of each compoundcrosshead are laterally overlapping over the span of such compoundcrosshead between said two inside couplings.

17. The improvement as in claim 16 in which said frame structureprovides an access way at least as large 3 in lateral dimension as saidspan for introduction of a piece of work transversely into said centralspace from outside said frame structure.

18. In a frame structure comprising at least two crosshead meansdisposed at longitudinally opposite ends of a central space within saidstructure and each having opposite ends on opposite sides of said spaceand being comprised of beams extending in thedirection between suchopposite ends, and a plurality of tie means disposed on opposite ones ofsaid sides to couple said two crosshead means together, the improvementin which each crosshead means has only two ends which are laterallyopposite each other, said' beams of each crosshead means are laterallyoverlapping in the laterally central portion of that crosshead means andprovide at each such end of that crosshead means and in the transversedirection normal to the longitudinal and lateral directions analternation between beams having laterally salient end portions andbeams having laterally indented end portions, and in which said tiemeans couple said two crosshead means together by being coupled to bothsaid laterally salient portions and said laterally indented portions ofsaid beams of said two crosshead means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,416,058 2/1947 Mangnall 100-214XR 2,722,174 11/1955 Albers 100-214 XR 2,968,837 1/1961 Zeitlin et al100214 X-R 3,278,993 10/1966 Brayman et :al. 100214 XR FOREIGN PATENTS1,401,193 4/1965 France.

15,222 7/ 1904 Great Britain. 301,779 12/1928 Great Britain. 644,980 10/1950 Great Britain.

BILLY J. WILHITE, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 72-455, 100-264

